The 2005 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency for their attempts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to North Korea and Iran via negotiations.
Many analysts view the selection as a message supporting negotiations over military action and as a slap in the face to the Bush administration which chose to invade Iraq despite the fact that no evidence of nuclear weapons existed there. The U.S. also opposed a third term for ElBaradei with the IAEA, claiming he was being too soft on Iran in negotiations.
In announcing the award, the Nobel committee said, 'At a time when the threat of nuclear arms is again increasing, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to underline that this threat must be met through the broadest possible international cooperation. This principle finds its clearest expression today in the work of the IAEA and its director general.'
ElBaradei was in Vienna when he was notified he had won the award. He responded, 'The award basically sends a very strong message, which is: Keep doing what you are doing,' ElBaradei said. 'It's a responsibility but it's also a shot in the arm. They want to give the agency and me a shot in the arm to move forward.'
He was also not fazed by American opposition to his third term, telling the BBC, 'You cannot satisfy everybody,' he said. 'It's a thankless job. You will not be able to get everybody to applaud.'
Many analysts were expecting the award to go to Bob Geldof and/or Bono for their political work to raise awareness of the needs of third world nations. The committee has placed an emphasis on those who fight peacefully against nuclear proliferation.
'At a time when disarmament efforts appear deadlocked, when there is a danger that nuclear arms will spread both to states and to terrorist groups, and when nuclear power again appears to be playing an increasingly significant role, IAEA's work is of incalculable importance,' the committee said.
